Agriculture Department predicts record corn harvest
BY Associated Press
Friday, May 11, 2012
5/11/12 at 3:54 AM
Consumers could see some relief from higher food prices by late fall, if the latest government crop forecast holds up.
The U.S. Agriculture Department predicted Thursday that corn production will total a record 14.8 billion bushels. That compares with 12.4 billion bushels a year ago, and it's 11 percent higher than the previous record crop in 2009.
The government also predicts a record yield of 166 bushels per acre.
The USDA also noted that some of this year's crop may be ready for use earlier than normal because of a fast start to the planting season.
